Submarine vessel.



C. A. BALLOUGH.

SUBMARINE VESSEL.

APPLICATION nus!) JULY 9. I9I5.

Patented 0013.24, 1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

Inventor orneys 1v: NORRIS PETERS co, wnsumanm, n c

C. A. BALLOUGH.

SUBMARINE VESSEL. APPLICATION FILED JULY 9. I915- 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

r'l-ns uomus PErR cm, WASHINGTON, v c.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916. I

C. A. BALLOUGH.

SUBMARINE VESSEL.

APPLICATION man JULY 9. 1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Oct. 24,

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Inventor Witnesses Attorneys Kai raarnnr KA a.

CHARLES A. BALLQUGH, OF DAYTONA, FLORIDA, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF T0 SUMNER H. GOVE, OF DAYTONA, FLORIDA.

SUBMARINE VESSEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. 2st, 1216.

Application filed July 9, 1915. Serial No. 38,939.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, CHARELJQS A. EAL..- ilouon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Daytona, in the county of Volnsia and State of Florida, have invented a new and useful Submarine Vessel, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to submarine vessels, and aims to provide certain improvements therein which will serve to increase their efiiciency and efi'ectiveness.

A specific object of the invention is the provisionof a telescopic conning tower embodying an observation tube adapted to be projected above and retracted below the deck.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein 1- Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved submarine vessel. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged end view. Fig. 1 is an enlarged sectional detail. of the conning tower taken on the line 4l-4l of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating the conning tower, the air tube and one of the liatclrways.

The present submarine vessel embodies the usual hull 1 which is of fusiform contour, and which comprises the outer and inner shells 2 and 3, respectively. The hull l is provided intermediate its ends with a raised deck 1. The conning tower embodies a vertical cylindrical hatchway 17, normally closed by a cover or lid 18 flush with. the deck, and containing an observation tube or cylinder 19 which is slidable within the hatchway or guide 17. The upper end of the observation tube 19 is provided with an o ')cning 20 across which a rubber or elastic diaphragm 21 is disposed, the diaphragm being secured to the upper end of the tube 19, and the diaphragm being provided with a central upstanding transparent helmet 22 adapted to receive the head of the observer disposed within the tube 19. The diaphragm 21 closes the opening 20 and excludes water from the interior of the obsernition tube, and the diaphragm also enables the helmet 22 to be raised. upwardly out of the observation tube for the convenience of the observer, and to enable the helmet 22 alone to project up out oi the rater, so that it cannot be readily detected.

In order to raise and lower the observation tube 19, the lower end or bottom thereof is secured upon a disk 23 attached to the upper end 01. a rack bar 24:, and a pinion 25 meshes with the rack bar 241-, so that when the pinion 25 is rotated by any suitable mechanism (not shown), the rack 24: will be moved vertically for correspondingly moving the observation tube.

The bottom of the tube 1.9 is provided with a manhole cover 26, which when removed or opened allows one of the crew to ascend into or descend. out of the tube 19. The disk 23 is provided with a similar complementing cover 27, it being observed that both of the covers 26 and 27 must be opened lice-ore admission is had to the interior of the observation tube from the interior of the vessel. The disk 2 serves as a secondary closure for the hatchway or guide 17 when the observation tube 19 is raised, in order that the observation tube may be cast oil when necessary, should it be struck by a shell or otherwise injured.

An air tube 2bv extends upwardly within the observation tube 19 for supplying air to the observer, and the tube 28 projects downwardly through the bottom of the observation tube and the disk 23. The bottom of the observation tube 19 is normally held upon the disk or cover 23 by means of re movable bolts or securing elements 29. The disk 23 is also provided with a depending drain cock 30, and the bottom of the observation tube 19 is provided with an opening 31 registering with the drain cock 30. A check valve 32 is provided for the opening 31 and is normally held open when the bottom of the observation tube 1.9 is secured upon the disk 23.

In order to mount the cover 18 for movement off of and onto the hatchway or guide 17. the cover 18 is provided at one side with a downwardly projecting arm 33 pivoted to bracket 341- provided upon the hull at one side of the hatchway 17, and a coiled retractile spring 35 connects the arm 33 and the hatchway '17 for yieldably moving and holding the cover 18 upon the hatchway. A

butter 36 is carried by said hatchway in the path of the arm 33, and serves to cushion the movement of the lid 18 when it is closed, to absorb the shocks. Supposing the observation tube 19 to be retracted below the deck,

as seen in Fig. 5, the covers or doors 27 and 26 may be opened from the interior of the vessel to allow the observer topass upwardly into the observation tube, the covers 126 and 27 then being closed. The observathe hatchway.

tion tube is then raised by means of the rack and pinion or other elevating mechanism, so as to project the observation tube or conning towerab'ove the deck. In this case, the vessel is submer ed just slightly below the surface '01 the water, so as not to be seen from above, and when the observation tube 1s raised, it is brought near the surface 01. the water, so that the observer may thrust the helmet 22 upwardly out of the water to view the conditions above the water. Air is supplied the observer through the pipe or tube 28. Should the observation tube be struck by a vone cast off. Suitable means (not shown) can be employed for ejecting the observation tube.

As a means for conveniently opening the cover 18 when the observation tube is raised, the cover 18 is provided with a depending web 37 adjacent the arm 33, and lying in the path of an upstanding tappet finger 38 carried by the upper end of the observation tube, in order that when the observation tube is raised, the finger 38 in engaging the web 37 will quickly raise the cover 18, the finger 38 then sliding along the cover to the free end thereof. to fully open the cover, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. \Vhen the observation tube is lowered or retracted, the cover 18 closes automatically, and by opening the covers or closures 2G and 27, the observer may pass back into the main compa rtment of the vessel.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A submarine vessel having a conning tower embodying an observation tube projectable above and retractable below the deck, the upper end of the tube having an opening, an elastic diaphragm secured across said opening and having a transparent helmet.

2. A submarine vessel having a conning tower embodying an observation tube projectable above and retractable below the deck. an elastic portion carried by the upper end of said tube having an observation helmet.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed my signature.

CHARLES A. BALLOUQH'I.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

' Washington, D. 0. 

